Image courtesy of CUBE 3 and Jacobs

The owner-developer of the Cambridge District Court in Medford is seeking to block RISE Together’s recently-approved life science development on the neighboring Bertucci’s restaurant property.

CC Industries Realty Trust, an affiliate of Medford-based insurers Cross Country Group, said the Medford Zoning Board of Appeals improperly approved a series of variances clearing the way for the 258,000-square-foot office-lab building at 4060 Mystic Valley Parkway.

In August, Boston-based RISE Together received approval for the redevelopment, including replacement of the one-story restaurant with an 8-story life science building including ground-floor retail.

The complaint, filed in Massachusetts Land Court, named RISE Together and the Medford ZBA as defendants.

The 1.4-acre property is located in an industrial zoning district. Developers received variances for side and rear yard setbacks, maximum height and maximum lot coverage, along with a site plan approval.

The complaint, submitted by attorneys from ArentFox Schiff LLP in Boston, argues that both the variances and site plan were “incorrect, unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious” and asks the court to annul the approvals.

RISE Together and the Medford ZBA have asked the court for an extension until Jan. 27 to respond to the complaint, which was filed Sept. 22.

Developed in 2009, the 56,000-square-foot courthouse replaced the Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse in East Cambridge, which closed due to asbestos contamination and is being redeveloped into office space and affordable housing by Leggat McCall Properties and CBRE Global Investors.

CC Industries Realty Trust developed the new courthouse under a turnkey design and construction management agreement designed to fast-track the project timeline.